Delta Dental Strategic Priority: Senior Oral Health Care

Addressing the senior oral health crisis

Improving the oral health and wellness of older adults is a priority for Delta Dental. Learn more about how we’re taking action to improve access to oral health care for seniors.

Why focus on oral health for seniors?

With oral health intricately linked to heart, brain and mental health, it's critical to address the unique challenges seniors face in accessing proper dental care. Our Senior Oral Health Survey Report revealed that 72% of Americans aged 50 and older wish they had taken better care of their teeth in their younger years, yet many continue to face significant barriers in doing so. Our strategic partnership approach seeks to bridge these gaps, emphasizing oral health education and care, and driving lasting policy changes to address the senior oral health crisis.

Senior Oral Health and Mental Well-Being: A Vital Connection. 37% say oral tooth pain intensifies feelings of depression or hopelessness. 57% feel shame about their oral health and appearance of their teeth. 60% worry about being negatively judged on the appearance of their teeth. 80% said the simple act of smiling can make them feel happier.

The link between oral health and mental well-being

In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month in May, Delta Dental conducted an extensive survey among seniors, unveiling the complex relationship between oral health and mental well-being. The findings from Delta Dental’s 2023 Senior Mental and Oral Health Report, which surveyed over 1,000 older Americans about their oral health habits, reveal a troubling cycle: Mental health issues lead to oral health neglect, which in turn worsens mental health problems.

The senior oral health program: a model for strategic partnerships

The Senior Oral Health Partnership addresses the senior oral health care crisis by investing in strategic partnerships aimed at improving access to oral care for historically neglected seniors. Our multifaceted approach aspires to improve the health of our aging population, particularly those in marginalized communities. By funding and fostering collaborations with community partners, the program supports the development of innovative approaches and expanding oral health services, paving the way for a scalable Senior Oral Health Care Model.

Learn more about our approach, achievements and learnings from the first year of implementation in our Senior Oral Health Annual Report.

Our partners

Each partnership aims to help provide quality outcomes, improve accessibility and create greater equity in the care and treatment older adults receive. Insights collected throughout the program will be utilized to identify effective solutions and inform the Delta Dental Senior Oral Health Care Model, which will be replicated as the program develops.

Howard University is one of the nation’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities. The College of Dentistry was founded in 1881 and is the country’s fifth oldest dental school. The College has trained thousands of dental professionals who serve communities around the world.
For more than 30 years, Mary’s Center, a Federally Qualified Health Center, has been serving people of all ages, incomes and backgrounds from the Washington, DC metro area.

Dientes Community Dental Care works to ensure that cost, insurance, income, race, language and transportation do not prevent people from visiting the dentist in Santa Cruz County.
Salud Para La Gente serves as a “health home” and provides high-quality, comprehensive and cost-effective health care to its community members in Santa Cruz and North Monterey Counties.

Dientes Community Dental Care works to ensure that cost, insurance, income, race, language and transportation do not prevent people from visiting the dentist in Santa Cruz County.
Salud Para La Gente serves as a “health home” and provides high-quality, comprehensive and cost-effective health care to its community members in Santa Cruz and North Monterey Counties.

Health Quality Partners is a nonprofit dedicated to advancing health equity in Southern California communities and supports research, resource development and implementation of programs with a consortium of clinical and non-clinical partners across the region. The organizations participating in the Senior Oral Health Partnership include Federally Qualified Health Centers: Community Health Systems, Inc., Imperial Beach Community Clinic, Indian Health Council, Neighborhood Healthcare, San Ysidro Health, Father Joe’s Villages and Vista Community Clinic, as well as the County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency, Medical Care Services.

Goals of the program

Each partnership is built on a shared commitment to common goals, aiming to establish a replicable model for community-driven oral health solutions:

Expand access to oral care for seniors: Significantly expand the availability of affordable, quality oral health care for all seniors, ensuring wide-reaching impact and inclusivity.
Strengthen the workforce: Create a strong, skilled oral health workforce to manage the needs of a growing older adult population.
Advocate for change: Advocate for systems-level change to reduce barriers to oral health access for older adults.
Improve senior lives: Dedicate efforts to reduce oral care disparities, directly enhancing the quality of life for seniors by ensuring equitable care and treatment.

Other senior care partners

The UCLA School of Dentistry MINDFUL Project addresses the public health crisis facing older adults by increasing access to comprehensive oral health care.
Meals on Wheels San Francisco works on the front lines to support the critical nutritional needs of low-income seniors with health challenges, including poor oral health, facing limited or no access to food.
Utilizing new biomedical technology, Emory University monitors, diagnoses and treats senior adults and expectant mothers who face oral health disparities.
The State University of New York at Buffalo provides care to seniors and individuals living with intellectual or developmental disabilities, educates providers to care for these populations, and promotes prevention and oral health literacy.

Take a deeper look at what we do

For Mental Health Awareness Month, we conducted a comprehensive survey among seniors.
Learn more about how the Delta Dental Community Care Foundation helps Gary and many other older adults receive the assistance they need.